 Ralf Leads 1-2 for Williams - Malaysian GP Sunday March 17th, 2002 By Timothy Collings Ralf Schumacher kept alive a family tradition, but ended Ferrari's supremacy when he drove to a near-faultless victory ahead of his Williams-BMW teammate Juan-Pablo Montoya in Sunday's steamy Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang. The 26-year-old German, who started fourth on the grid, took advantage of his rivals' misfortunes to produce a measured race in high temperatures and humidity. It was his first win in seven races since last year's German Grand Prix at Hockenheim and the fourth of his career, emphasizing his belief that he can mount a Championship challenge this year. Colombian Montoya, who collided with Michael Schumacher's Ferrari at the first corner of the opening lap, had to undergo a 'drive through' penalty for what was described by the stewards as an avoidable collision, but recovered to produce a spirited recovery. The damage to Schumacher, who had won two of the previous three races in Malaysia and who was seeking a hat-trick, was serious. His front wing was removed, forcing an early pit stop to repair the damage that ended his realistic hopes of another win. But he did enough to take another podium finish when he caught and passed Briton Jenson Button, in his Renault, on the final lap. But Schumacher's teammate Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, who led from that opening lap collision, suffered even greater heart-break as Ferrari's fairytale of perfection in this torrid climate came to an end. He led until the first of two pit stops, recovered the ascendancy, lost it again at his second stop and then retired in spectacular fashion with an engine failure sending flames and smoke from his car. On a hugely disappointing afternoon again for McLaren Mercedes-Benz, both of whose cars were unable to finish, Briton Jenson Button had looked likely to secure his first podium finish and the first gathered by the new Renault team by coming home third ahead of Michael Schumacher, but the Ferrari number one, in the pits after one lap, worked his way through the field in classic fashion. German Nick Heidfeld, in his Sauber, drove with great control to take fifth place ahead of his 20-year-old Brazilian teammate Felipe Massa, making only his second race appearance for the Swiss team. This remarkable effort cut him out as a star of the future in the same fashion as his predecessor Finn Kimi Raikkonen who departed for McLaren at the end of last year. Raikkonen ran among the leaders in third place behind Barrichello and Ralf Schumacher in the early stages, but he was forced to retire in the pits with a blown engine after 24 laps. His teammate Briton David Coulthard also abandoned the race and retired his car into the McLaren garage after only 15 laps. Only 13 cars were left running, of the 22 starters, as the contest that proved to be as much a battle of attrition and survival as a test of endurance and talent came to its close. The Jordan team were the most extraordinary sufferers, however, as their top driver Italian Giancarlo Fisichella was eliminated in a collision with his own teammate Takuma Sato of Japan on only the second lap. Fisichella rejoined to finish 13th, but it was no reward for the luckless Italian's efforts.
Published at 08:45:43 GMT
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